Spurrier Holds The Key

SEC 2001 - GATORS QBS

Berlin, Grossman Battle It Out At Qb

GAINESVILLE -- One of Steve Spurrier's favorite analogies compares the quarterback to the left guard.

"For some reason," Spurrier says, "nobody worries about the left guard losing his confidence if you pull him out."

Maybe it's because the left guard doesn't throw the football 40 times in the Fun `n' Gun offense.

State your case for Rex Grossman or Brock Berlin as the starter. The bottom line: They're both going to play.

"If we've got two good players and one struggles," Spurrier said, "we're not afraid to use the other. Of the seven SEC [Southeastern Conference titles] we've won, three years we used two quarterbacks. It can be done as long as you can convince your players it's no big deal."

Officially, Florida has won six SEC titles under Spurrier, since the school was on probation when it placed first in 1990. That year, Spurrier plucked fourth-stringer Shane Matthews and turned him into a Heisman Trophy candidate.

The last time Spurrier started and stuck with just one quarterback was 1996, when Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman and led Florida to a national championship. But Spurrier notes that in 1993 and '94, Wuerffel successfully rotated with Terry Dean.

Some coaches think he's crazy. But Spurrier feels completely comfortable not yet knowing who will be under center against Marshall on Sept. 1."We'll just play it out," he said. "We're not set in stone. You're the starter as long as you're playing well. That's just the way we do it here."

Grossman started the last seven games of the season, completing 62 percent of his passes for nearly 1,900 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was chosen MVP of the SEC Championship Game, first-team All-SEC and a second-team freshman All-American.

This guarantees him nothing.

"You have to prove yourself every year on every team," said Grossman, a redshirt sophomore. "Coach Spurrier is going to find the best quarterback for the job, and that quarterback will be pretty good."

Berlin, a true sophomore, came to Florida last year as the nation's No. 1 recruit. Though he was expected to challenge Jesse Palmer for the starting position, he wasted what could have been a redshirt season on 27 passes.

A blue-chip status guarantees him nothing.

"I'm just going with what Coach said, and he said it's equal [footing]," Berlin said. "So I'm excited about that. I'm excited about the opportunity."

Both quarterbacks have delivered what seem like well-rehearsed lines since the competition opened in the spring. They say they have no problem rotating if it's best for the team. Most players follow their lead.

"It's never a bad thing to have two great quarterbacks," tackle Mike Pearson said.

Said running back Robert Gillespie: "It's the same every year. We always worry about who's going to start and this and that. It just doesn't matter."

Added wide receiver Jabar Gaffney: "They can both get the job done. They both deliver it to the same spot."

Surprisingly, senior rush end Alex Brown broke company line, stating he'd like to see Spurrier select and stick with one quarterback. "Coach knows what he's doing, but if it was my decision, I would just have one," Brown said. "I don't think Danny [Wuerffel] was great right off the bat."

Said center Zac Zedalis: "I'd just hate to be in their position because they're both good enough to play at any other school. You have to go in there and play perfect."

The coaches at Florida State and Miami feel it's best to use just one quarterback. Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who rotated quarterbacks more than 20 years ago, now believes in picking one starter. He recently chose Chris Rix and moved Anquan Boldin back to wide receiver.

Said Miami Coach Larry Coker: "I don't think you can have a quarterback by committee, other than maybe at Florida."

Said Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville: "The quarterback is the leader of the team within the locker room. You're only as good as your quarterback does leadership-wise. If you have any indecision as a coaching staff, your players pick up on that. Once you get into alternating, you are really asking for a situation that you are going to fail."

Said Mississippi State Coach Jackie Sherrill: "If you think you have more than one starting quarterback, you don't have any."

So, the consensus is that Spurrier would be better off with just one quarterback. Since when has Spurrier cared about the consensus?

Grossman has the edge in experience, arm strength and quickness of release. The Hoosier with dark hair is more loquacious, more outgoing and is perceived by some as a "bad boy."

Berlin has the edge in mobility, leadership skills and hype. The Cajun kid with blond hair is more straight-laced, very religious and gets good grades. He is a Danny Wuerffel-wanna-be who even wears No. 7.

These are the perceptions.

"Well, I grew up differently, I think," Grossman said. "I don't think I'm a bad boy at all. I don't know where that started. I'm not a Southern football player, so that's a strike on me. But it's all nonsense."

Asked by a reporter whether he -- at least once -- could say something controversial, Berlin grinned and said: "Can't do it, fellas; can't do it."

Surely, Spurrier doesn't care where they're from or how effusive they are. As he's always said, he'll put the player on the field who can lead the Gators to more touchdowns. But what if he believes the combination of both players can lead Florida to a national championship?

It hasn't happened since 1991, when Mark Brunell and Billy Joe Hobert split time for Washington, which split a national title with Miami.

"Well, we're going to name a starter the week of the Marshall game," Spurrier said. "They're both very capable. It might be a year when we need two again. I don't know. I hope we don't need three."